The football world wondered about the real level of Al-Annabi (the Bordeaux), who had been preparing almost behind closed doors for six months to make a success of their great debut at this level, and everyone could see that the reigning Asian champion, perhaps paralyzed by the challenge, did not measure up. Qatar was beaten by Ecuador 2-0.
For its 4th participation, Ecuador hastened to seize the offering. After a goal disallowed for offside which should be talked about (3rd), the “Tricolor” quickly found the opening in the 16th minute, then made the break 15 minutes later.
Public dismayed
Each time thanks to the untenable Enner Valencia who provoked and converted a penalty, then widened the gap with a powerful header. Already in good shape with Fenerbahçe, the striker with 75 caps now has 37 goals… including 5 in World Cups. Touched just before half-time, the Ecuadorian tormentor was however replaced by limping in the 76th minute.
On his bench, the Qatari coach, the Spaniard Félix Sanchez Bas, trained at the Barcelona school, seemed dismayed. Just like the public, cooled by this catastrophic scenario more than by the air conditioning of the stands, which caused controversy in Europe.
Under the eyes of the current and former emirs, architects of Qatar’s candidacy and in front of many heads of state, the spectacular Al-Bayt stadium, whose architecture imitates a Bedouin tent, seemed clearly won over to the because of the hosts of the world, with many locals, in traditional outfits, among the 67,372 supporters present. But the stadium emptied at halftime of its third.
Sparse grandstands
The pre-match was marked by an opening ceremony with American actor Morgan Freeman as narrator and a message of “respect and inclusion”, in the context of recurring criticism against the emirate in terms of respect for people. human rights.
Several heads of state and government were present, in the forefront of which the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed ben Salmane, the king of Jordan, or even the Palestinian presidents Mahmoud Abbas, Algerian Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as well as the Turk Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.
France was represented by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin while President Emmanuel Macron announced his presence for the semi-final or the final only in the event of qualification of the Blues.